Greens say AI deepfakes could influence the next electionA Greens senator has warned the rise of sophisticated deep-fake videos made using generative AI has the power to steal the upcoming federal election.Jessica Wang@imjesswang_2 min readSeptember 20, 2024 - 11:57AMNewsWireGreens senator David Shoebridge has warned that sophisticated deepfake videos made using generative AI has the power to “steal the next federal election”.The warning comes after the final report into a Senate probe into adopting artificial intelligence was delayed on Thursday, with the report now due to be published by November 26.However, an interim report to be released in the coming weeks will focus on the potential of AI-generated deepfake political material and it’s effect on elections, with the US election slated for November 5, and an Australian federal election slated for next year.Senator Shoebridge said Australia’s laws targeting AI-generated deepfake content were out of date, and said more powers needed to be given to the Electoral Commission to prevent deceptive content.Greens Senator David Shoebridge warned there was a real threat deepfake videos could ‘steal’ the next election. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman“Everyone who cares about democracy should be concerned about the potential for AI deepfakes being used to steal the next Federal election,” he told NewsWire.“We are seeing this play out in real time in the US presidential campaign with deepfakes and altered videos widely circulating.“That should really be spurring other MPs and Senators to join us and start protecting our democracy.”During a May hearing, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said the watchdog did not have the “legislative tools” or the “technical capacity” to detect AI-generated content, and conceded Australian voters were not immune to the fake content.Earlier this month, independent senator David Pocock shared a generative AI video of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing a ban on gambling ads, highlighting the ease of how the videos are produced.“I’m concerned we’re not seeing the urgency required to protect our democracy from generative AI,” he said.However, committee chair and senator Tony Sheldon said any potential laws needed to “strike the right balance” between upholding free speech and political expression, while protecting vulnerable people suspectable to being influenced by the doctored content.“Political deepfake laws, like any reforms relating to political expression, need to be carefully considered, widely consulted on, and receive broad support across the political spectrum,” he said.“If we aren’t careful with how we regulate political deepfakes we risk achieving the very outcome we’re trying to avoid – reducing public faith in our democratic institutions.”Labor senator Tony Sheldon said any proposed laws needed to be balance free speech, with protecting vulnerable voters. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin OllmanCurrently Labor has introduced a Bill to combat misinformation and disinformation,and will cover fake political content, and allows the Australian Communications and Media Authority to fine companies up to 5 per cent of their global turnover.It also allows compels the regulator to compel companies for information on how they are preventing mis and dis information, however ACMA cannot force platforms to remove content.Although the Greens have yet to announce their support for the Bill, the Coalition have; lashed it over concerns it would impede free speech.Read related topics:Adam BandtMore related storiesPolitics‘Infected’: MP’s big call on human rights bodyAn MP has delivered a sharp attack on Australia’s $43m human rights body, suggesting it should be folded up for failing to defend Jewish Aussies.Read moreSocial Media‘Aussie humour’: Cyclone trend takes offA mind-blowing number of Aussies are banding together in a tongue-in-cheek effort to “blow” Cyclone Alfred and “push it back”.Read moreSocial MediaHuge holes in tech anti-terrorism checksRadical and abhorrent content on the all-powerful social media platforms is slipping through a series of gaps, a new Australian report finds.Read more